Canada’s first wine village opening this summer in the South Okanagan

Cheers, wine lovers: Canada’s first wine village is officially opening in Oliver on Canada Day.

The District Wine Village is bringing together small-batch wine, beer, cider and spirit producers under one roof as well as offering a unique event venue and creative culinary offerings.

The Oliver project by Greyback Construction has been in the works for the last few years.

“Ultimately, this project is all about community,” Greyback Construction general Manager Matt Kenyon said in a previously issued news release.

“Not only are we creating a diverse community for our resident wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries and eateries, but we are really looking to be a significant economic driver for our local communities and support the future growth of wine and culinary tourism in the South Okanagan.”

Their vision is to bring small producers under one roof, where new or existing producers can find space and a market without the need to invest in a large-scale facility of their own.

General sales manager Darcel Giesbrecht said the wine village will have a soft opening this weekend and will officially launch July 1.

Some construction will be ongoing until the fall, “just in time with harvest,” she said. The village will open with seven wineries, a brewery and an eatery July 1, and more will open throughout the summer, she said.

The village is on 10 acres of land, five of which are planted with grapes at 100 Enterprise Way in Oliver.

It has a centre plaza that is licensed for 600 people in the amphitheatre area and each winery patio is licenced for 35 people, she said. The site also has room for 16 artisan producers.

Nk’Mip Cellars, North America’s first Indigenous owned and operated winery, announced June 17 it will be part of the wine village. The village is located on Osoyoos Indian Band land.

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